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COLUMBUS — Donald Clark, the suspended Colorado County Precinct 3 justice of the peace, waived his first court hearing and entered a plea of not guilty, according to court records.
Clark was charged June 23 with one count each of official oppression, false report to a peace officer and making a false report to induce an emergency. The indictments allege Clark made a false report to 911 on Feb. 18 that led to the arrest of Columbus resident Bobby Lee Whisnant, Jr.
Clark signed a waiver of arraignment, allowing him to skip his Aug. 19 hearing, where the charges against him would have been formally read. The waiver acknowledges Clark is aware of the charges against him and enters a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
Clark is represented by Houston attorney Terry W. Yates. According to his firm’s website, Yates has litigated numerous high-profi le state and federal criminal cases, including those involving former Houston Police Department Capt. Mark Aguirre in connection with the “Kmart Raid,” former Houston Astros players Charlie Hayes and Ken Caminiti, Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina and former state District Judge Denise Pratt.
Clark’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.
